The Boston Celtics are a very good team, but there are doubts about their ability to contend in the East. The Nets have a superteam, the Bucks have a 2-time MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid is having his best season for the best team in the East right now. The Celtics are probably the 4th best team in the East and they need help to become a more dominant team.
The Celtics can acquire Washington Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook in a major Eastern Conference shakeup. By swapping their own point guard Kemba Walker and Daniel Theis, here is why the deal makes sense for both parties.
Trade Package: Kemba Walker, Daniel Theis for Russell Westbrook
The Celtics Create A Big Three With Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Russell Westbrook
In Boston, Russell Westbrook is a superstar to pair with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Even though Westbrook is having a relatively down year by averaging 19.9 PPG for one of the worst teams in the East, he should up his game when playing with other stars in a strong system. In order for Boston to build a legitimate title contender as the best team in the East, they need more star power. Especially to compete with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden in Brooklyn.
Westbrook is still one of the best point guards in the league and he brings the kind of physical dominance near the basket and on the boards that Boston could use. Boston’s lineup of Tatum, Brown, Westbrook, Marcus Smart, and Tristan Thompson is a very scary lineup that nobody in the East would want to play against. Despite Westbrook shooting only 41.9% from the field, he is averaging 9.0 RPG and 8.9 APG. Westbrook brings physicality and speed to a team full of young athletes that need more veteran experience as well.
The Wizards Give Bradley Beal Some Scoring Help And Size
Kemba Walker and Daniel Theis would be an excellent haul for Washington if they want to move on from Westbrook. Kemba can closely replicate Westbrook’s scoring and even improve it, as he shoots a better percentage from three (33.8% compared to 32.4%). He might fit Washington’s offense alongside Beal better because he doesn’t suffer from Westbrook’s inefficiencies with his shooting. Westbrook is only draining 65.5% from the free-throw line, while Kemba is nailing 90.9% from the stripe.
There is no denying which player is the better shooter, and Bradley Beal desperately needs a better offensive partner beside him. Westbrook is a better rebounder and playmaker than Kemba, but his poor shooting percentages at 19.9 PPG average is not going to give Beal the help he needs.
Kemba has had a rough start to the season, averaging 15.5 PPG, but he will find his rhythm again and improve Washington’s putrid record. What Bradley Beal needs is another scoring threat, not a player like Westbrook who struggles from the perimeter. Daniel Theis is another key piece for Washington because he can defend the paint, hit the jumper, and do the dirty work for a team missing their starting center. Thomas Bryant was having a career year, averaging 14.3 PPG and 6.1 RPG, but he will miss the rest of the seasons.
The Wizards desperately need a defensive presence and another big man who can play heavy minutes. Theis is not as talented as Bryant, but he can hit an open shot and hustles very hard. Based on what we saw from Theis in Boston, Washington will get an active big man to play big minutes.
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